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OFAC bars importation of Iranian carpets and foodstuffs

On September 28, 2010, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) amended the Iranian Transactions Regulations to prohibit the commercial importation of certain carpets and foodstuffs of Iranian origin. These amendments were made to resolve discrepancies between the regulations and recently enacted sanctions against Iran—the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010. In a Federal Register notice published on September 27, 2010, OFAC explained that the Iran sanctions law reinforces the current embargo on Iran by prohibiting exceptions for the commercial importation of these goods. As a result, effective September 29, 2010, OFAC will no longer authorize, by general or specific license, the commercial importation into the United States of such Iranian origin foodstuffs or carpets. Under the regulations, goods of third-country origin that are transshipped through Iran are considered goods of Iranian origin. The noncommercial importation of carpets and foodstuffs of Iranian origin is also prohibited under the amended regulations, unless otherwise authorized or exempt. Such noncommercial products, for example, may be exempt under the general license for Iranian-origin household goods and personal effects.